title: Long-term persistence of specific T- and B-lymphocyte responses to Borrelia burgdorferi following untreated neuroborreliosis.
abstract: Follow-up studies on 56 patients who suffered from antibiotically untreated, acute, monophasic neuroborreliosis five to 23 years ago revealed significant positive levels of IgG antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 20 patients (IFT, ELISA, Bb-specific IgG Western blot, Bb-specific IEF-IgG immunoblot). Nine of 10 tested patients had a definitely positive T-cell proliferative response to whole B. burgdorferi, with a mean (+/- -SEM) stimulation index of 7.2 +/- 1.8. Because the patients studied exhibited no, or only mild to medium sequelae without any evidence of a chronic-progressive disease, we interpret the long-term persistence of specific T- and B-lymphocyte responses to B. burgdorferi as an "immunological scar syndrome". Finally, diagnostic criteria of active neuroborreliosis are proposed.
authors.affiliation: Neurologische Universitätsklinik, Universität Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Krüger
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pulz
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sticht-Groh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D015748:Borrelia burgdorferi Group / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G